A Submariners Life

Taken from the Silent Sentinel, May Edition 2002

These undersea James Bonds ply the depths in cramped quarters. It seems crazy but there's nothing they'd rather do.

They're a funny breed, these submariners. They score at the top of the military entrance exams and can thrive for weeks
beneath the surface of the sea in what amounts to a sophisticated tin can loaded with some of the world's most lethal weapons.
They have their own rituals and initiations; their own language and bars. They tell jokes, love a good prank and will wrestle
on the floor like puppies.

Their conversation can range from muscle cars to philosophy and physics almost in the same breath.

Without the benefit of a calculator they can calculate the ocean's salinity at 400 feet, the water pressure and the sub's
buoyancy, then make adjustments on control panel that appear more scientific than military. Scientific Americans are in
the head and Nietzsche in the galley. "There are a lot of really intelligent people in here It's one of the best things
about this job," said Lt. J.G. Pau Seitz, who joined the Navy after graduating from college with a degree in physics.

"As a submariner, you get to have a James Bond life," explained Cmdr. Howard Trost, a former commanding officer of the
US Ohio. "When you're at home, you're helping the kids with algebra and working out in the yard. When you go to sea you
go to a whole different world."

Sailors who score at the top of the military aptitude tests in maths and science are generally offered a chance to join
the Submarine fleet. If they opt in, they attend one of several specialised training schools, teaching them how to run a
reactor, or supervise the underwater launch of a nuclear missile.

They also train for life below the sea, including how to cope with emergencies such as fire and flood. "There are two
thing we fear: water in the people tank and fire," said Master Chief Dave Johnson, the head of curriculum and instruction
at the training facility. "And we train for the worst that could happen."

The all-male crew submarines are one of the last bastions to prohibit women from serving aboard ship are part of a exclusive
fraternity that few can imagine.

"What is it like to go out to sea?" I said, Master Chief Jerr Coss, the USS Alaska's Chief of Boat replied "Well, if
you want an idea, first seal off your windows and doors and sleep under the coffee table. Hang a clipboard on your refrigerator
and check something off on it every hour. "Then set your alarm to go off at random times, and when it goes off, get up,
run around and do something that seems completely meaningless," he said laughing.

It's not surprising that with a schedule like that, the humour gets a little warped. "A sense of humour is very important.
If you don't have one, you're not going to make it here," said Machinist's Mate 1st Class Zack Shepherd. They'll tell a
new guy that someone has to swim to the mail buoy and then have him put on a wetsuit. They'll put a little hair remover
in someone's shampoo while whispering about radiation poisoning. The lifestyle, isn't for most, submariners admit but for
those who can hack it there isn't anything else they'd rather do. "Yes, we're a little bit crazy," said Command Master Chief
Gary Flesher, the boss of all the enlisted submariners a Bangor. "People always say, 'How can you do it?' But we couldn't
imagine doing anything else. To us, this is still the best job in the world.

Comments

0 comments

This form is for you to comment on, or add additional information to this page. Any questions will be deleted. If you wish to ask a question or otherwise contact the Branch or the Webmaster. Please use the Contact Us page or ask your question on our Facebook Page

Name (required)

Email (will not be published; required)

Please insert the result of the arithmetical operation from the following image:

=

Note: All submissions are subject to webmaster approval prior to appearing on the page. As a SPAM prevention measure, any comments containing links to other sites will be automatically discarded

Related Pages

The traditional British sailor was not defined by his looks, he was defined by his attitude, his name was Jack Tar, he was a happy-go-lucky sort of bloke. He took the good times with the bad. He didn't cry victimisation, bastardisation, discrimination, for his mum for his often self destructive actions. He loved to laugh at anything or anybody rank, race, gender, creed or behaviour, it didn't matter to Jack, he would take the micky out of anyone, including himself, and if someone took it out of him he didn't get offended, it was a natural part of life.

Now that my signature on the 'Official Secrets Form' has expired, I can tell you Diesel Submariners in our midst what we in the Bombers had to endure and put up with, keeping you safe from the 'Red Hordes' on our Patrols!

This article is part of a paper 'Submarine Medicine and Submarine Living', presented by the Author at the Symposium of Underwater and Aviation Medical Problems at the RN Air Medical School, in November, 1961.

If you find this site useful, please consider supporting it by making a donation towards the maintenance of the site using the button below.

Please Note: Donations made using this option go directly to the sites author and host, and not to the Branch or National funds.